VATICAN CITY – Although Pope Francis has not hesitated to break with convention during his brief pontificate, in appointing a seasoned member of the diplomatic corps as the top Vatican official, he resumed a long-standing tradition.

As you know, in June of this year I announced that the bishops of Canada are calling on the Catholics of our country to support our brothers and sisters in Syria. The situation there is truly horrible, with well over a million refugees having fled to neighbouring countries and living now in terrible conditions.